Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ingr!whitehrc
From: whitehrc@ingr.com (Robert C. Whitehead)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: fuel dump after scrub
Summary: I'd say it's dangerous....
Message-ID: <9703@ingr.com>
Date: 11 Apr 90 13:52:46 GMT
References: <19546@grebyn.com>
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, Al
Lines: 27

In article <19546@grebyn.com>, pat@grebyn.com (Pat Bahn) writes:
> Why do they dump the fuel in the ET after a scrub?  couldn't it be
> mostly reclaimed?  it seem to be a big savings in energy to make
> a handling facility then to chill air for the liquid O2/H2.  That
> or for the electrolytic plant to split water.
> 
> So why dump it?  is it too dangerous to handle again at the pad?
> I mean they get it out there, so there must be a reasonable way
> to pump it back to the tank farm.

Yeah, I'd say it's dangerous.  Remember the Hindenburg?

Seriously, I think the economics of offloading the H2 and O2 don't
justify the amount of damage that could result from an explosion
if an accidient occurred.

(Which brings up the interesting question - isn't it just as
dangerous to dump the fuel?  I'd think there would be a significant
danger of explosion then, too....)


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| Robert C. (Bob) Whitehead  |
|         --=rcw=--          | Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville
| Direct Email Replies:      | Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are
|	ingr!b32a!rw8024!bob |  strictly mine
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